Results 47,981-48,000 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Company Liquidations. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 112 and 137 together. As indicated in replies to previous questions, matters relating to the liquidation of the company concerned are currently the subject of attention by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the Employment Appeals Tribunal. Each of these bodies is independent in the performance of its functions and it would not be...

Company Liquidations. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I share the sentiments expressed by the Deputy. I wish to put on the record the main company law provisions in Ireland dealing with such companies. Companies that fail and re-engage in trading under a new name are addressed under the Companies Acts 1963-2005 and, in particular, under the provisions of Part 5 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001. Under section 56 of the latter Act, a new...

Industrial Development. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The National Competitiveness Council, NCC, recently published its Statement on the Costs of Doing Business in Ireland. The publication outlines the key findings of research looking at the cost of doing business at four locations in Ireland — Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick — and comparing these to international centres such as Bangalore, Boston and Copenhagen. The data is for one...

Industrial Development. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I answered the question by giving a balanced perspective on the issue. Deputy Hogan is overly concentrating on the negative.

Industrial Development. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: We are aware of the energy issue. That is why the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, produced a Green Paper on energy and has brought in a number of initiatives in that area. Our main energy problem is our high dependence on fossil fuels. I am on a Cabinet sub-committee on the issue. We are concerned on an ongoing basis about energy prices and...

Industrial Development. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: It can be explained when one considers our dependence on fossil fuels. That is where the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, moved in last year's budget in terms of incentivising indigenous renewables and alternatives to our fossil fuel dependency. That is ultimately the way forward, as well as the...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Work Permits section of my Department has informed me that this application was refused and the employer was notified of this decision in writing and of their right of appeal. To-date no such appeal has been received in the Work Permit section. In the aftermath of EU Enlargement, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: In the context of Health and Safety and Security requirements, it would not be feasible for Enterprise Ireland (EI) to engage in the management of a sub letting, lease, or rent arrangement, in relation to that section of Enterprise Ireland's Glasnevin site. Security, and Health and Safety concerns include the fact that the area concerned is an integral part of the site in Glasnevin and is not...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The marketing of individual areas, including Waterford, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for IDA Ireland. I have been informed by the Agency that there have been 8 site visits to Waterford City and none to the County in the past twelve months. In Waterford City, IDA Ireland continues to market its new Business and Technology Park on circa 28...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the position in relation to the number of full time job gains and job losses in firms assisted by the enterprise development agencies under the aegis of my Department (Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland) in each of the years between 2001 and 2005 (agency data does not distinguish between Waterford city and county). Over the 5 year period there has been a net...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I was aware for some time that the company in question was carrying out a strategic review of its operation in Coolock. During the course of the review, the Chairman of the company and the Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Ireland together with senior management from both organisations were in discussions. I understand that the company was concerned about the high level of operating...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Work Permits Section of my Department have set out a chart indicating the number of new applications filed and the number approved for each month since 1st May 2004. Information on appeals since May 2004 is not readily available, however, the number of appeals received to date in 2006 is 1,000 approximately, of which it is estimated that about 50% have been upheld and 50% rejected. ...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (as amended) the Commission for Energy Regulation is the responsible authority for regulating energy prices including the price of electricity and gas. I do not have any function in this area. I would advise the Deputy, however, that it is intended that the forthcoming Bill establishing the new National Consumer Agency (NCA) will include a specific...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 372 together. Of the four Directives overdue for transposition by the official EU Commission deadlines, it is expected that three will be implemented by 31 December 2006 as follows: 1. Council Directive 2001/86/EC supplementing the Statute for a European Company with regard to the involvement of employees Transposition Deadline: 8 October 2004 2....

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Between 16th to 19th October, 2006, in my capacity as Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, I paid an official visit Canada at the head of an Enterprise Ireland- sponsored Trade Mission. The main purpose of the Trade Mission was to promote Ireland as a source of world-class products and services in Canada, and also to highlight the growing economic links between the two countries....

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The main purpose of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to provide work experience and training for the long term unemployed and disadvantaged groups (including those with a disability) and thereby enable participants to advance successfully to employment in the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (14 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department, in common with other civil service Departments and offices, fully implements the Government's policy on the employment of people with a disability. The recruitment of staff to all Government Departments, including my Department, is undertaken by the Public Appointments Service. Provided the qualifying criteria for each particular competition are satisfied, persons with...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (9 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to...

Written Answers — Company Takeovers: Company Takeovers (9 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Under the merger provisions of the Competition Act, 2002, proposed mergers require regulatory clearance from the Competition Authority. I have no role in this process, other than in the case of media mergers. Accordingly, neither I nor officials in my Department were required to be notified of the proposed merger. Our knowledge of the proposed merger was properly limited to information...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (9 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: All proper procedures were adhered to in this case. The person concerned was employed on a short-term contract as a Temporary Service Attendant. His contract was due to expire on 12th May 2006 but was extended until 28th July 2006 to allow for a number of appeals he made in writing and orally. The Secretary General of my Department, having fully considered the matter, and following legal...